Bo'ness United 2-3 Spartans

Our "FanView" match report was submitted by BRYAN COPELAND!

Lowland League Match day 8
Bo’ness United v Spartans
Wednesday 18/08/21 KO 19:45
Newtown Park, Bo’ness

Bo’ness Team :
Murphy (Gk). J. McCormack, Skinner, Hunter (C), Macauley, Grant, Galbraith, McMullan, Hawkins, Flynn, Miller.
Subs : Trialist (GK), McKenzie, Allan, Anderson.

A home game and a home crowd for the BU tonight on the back of two defeats and not having played great at the weekend. The visitors tonight will offer a threat and are going well so far this season so it could be a tough night in store.
The home players however as always will be up for the game and Gaffer Max Christie will have done his homework. The effort so far this season can’t be faulted however results haven’t been great in a lot of matches so far and some performances could have been improved, however the loyal support will as always cheer the team on and hopefully under the lights a home win can be celebrated.

Into the first half and it was the visitors that got us underway attacking the goal towards Fisons. It was a quiet opening spell as both teams tried to settle into the game with none of the two goal keepers having anything to do. 11 minutes in and we got the opening goal a great through ball from Grant found Miller and with the keeper advancing towards him he got his shot away and the ball landed in the back of the net. Bo’ness 1 - 0 Spartans. A corner from Spartans was cleared as far as the edge of the box where from distance a shot came in well over the bar with no danger of troubling Murphy in the BU goal. Moments later though the visitors were attacking again this time with pace down the left and a good cut inside allowed the ball to be player across the box, it was a poor delivery however and went for a goal kick. The Bo’ness keeper was called into action on 17 minutes making a very good save after a good cross field ball fell nicely on the edge of the box for a shot it was hit with reasonable power and looked to be bending towards the corner when Murphy got a firm two hands on the ball to clear. After Bo’ness gave the ball away cheaply in midfield a driving run from the half way like to inside the box looked to be causing problems thankfully for the home side the end shot was poor and went well wide of the target. After 25 minutes the visitors could be wondering how they’re still a goal down with chances they had to score yet again another attack down the left saw a cross lofted into the six yard box and somehow from five yards headed wide of the post. The only chance on offer from the home side was a shot from distance that was well wide before once again the ball was moved quickly to the other end and yet another cross found a man free at the back post same outcome as last time ball went wide of the post. A Grant free kick from wide left was well delivered into the Spartans box and headed towards goal only to be blocked the rebound however was soon hit and looked to be heading for the net but for a last ditch header on the line. Hunter was on hand for the home side blocking a cross followed by another from the resulting throw but as the ball was cleared the visitors picked it up again and played a beat ball out wide right, with time a good cross was sent over and the ball headed towards goal this time a combination of Andy Murphy and the post keeping it from the net. More forward play from the visitors again had them breaking into the box and once more managed to get a shot away this time blocked by Skinner and moments later Murphy was down low in the centre of his goal to make a save. The last action of the half was a free kick to them left of the box swing in by Spartans and cleared around the penalty spot by the Bo’ness defence. The home side must feel very fortunate to be leading and the visitors left wondering how they’re not goals up.

Half time Bo’ness United 1 - 0 Spartans.

Into the second half and a change for Bo’ness saw McKenzie replace Macauley before the game got back underway. An early break for the home side saw a brilliant ball played through to Grant who turned inside the box and hit a cracker of a low drive into the bottom left hand corner of the net. Bo’ness 2 - 0 Spartans. From the restart the visitors responded with a quick ball up the left and a cross towards the back post like the first half however the ball was out wide of the target. Moments later and another cross was floated over the box this time a poor delivery and the ball went out of play. Galbraith went into the referees book for a foul and from the resulting free kick the ball into the box was well defended by the home side. A 2nd change for Bo’ness saw McMullan replaced by Allen not long after the visitors had made a double change. 66 minutes played and the visitors gave themselves a lifeline poor defending from Bo’ness trying to pass the ball out when it should have been booted clear almost inside the 6 six yard box allowed a free hit on goal and this time no mistake was made. Bo’ness 2 - 1 Spartans. The home side soon had more defending to do sending a dangerous cross out for a corner which was cleared towards half way. Slack passing however once again handed back possession and a driving run forward had Murphy alert to make a save. From the resulting corner the ball was headed away almost off the line from Hunter before some breathing space for the Bo’ness back line as the ball was cleared well up the field. As the Bo’ness gather got ready to make his final change the ball was again headed into the visitors box, Murphy went for it looked to have it covered however it was awkward and fell from his grasp allowing the simplest of finishes and all of a sudden the visitors were level. Bo’ness 2 - 2 Spartans. Before the game restarted the change was made and it was Anderson for Flynn. The home side tried to resound and got a corner but soon once again the ball was being worked up towards the other end a pass inside from the left found a man free just inside the box and the shot stung the gloves of Murphy as he turned the ball away for a corner. Next to deal with was a long throw that went all the through to Murphy. A quick long ball out found Anderson who had no option but to take the shot on first time and the ball went well over the bar. Quickly to the other end and a low drive from the edge of the box narrowly missed the post and went for a goal kick. Two minutes to go and the visitors completed the turnaround, a cross into the box was allowed to bounce and no one for the home side dealt with it handing Spartans a third goal on a plate. Bo’ness 2 -3 Spartans with only minutes to go. A ball over the top almost found Anderson as the home side tried to get an equaliser and just before the final whistle Miller latched onto a through ball but was stopped by a good tackle just to the left of the box.

Disappointment for the home side and elation for the visitors as the whistle went.
Full time Bo’ness 2 -3 Spartans.